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by Aditha Dissanayake

"If-you-happen-to-see-the-most-beautiful-girl-in-the-world.." so goes the song. So, hum I, the words to myself when I see Prasangi. Dressed in a white blouse and red checked skirt, she sits sewing a rose on a pillow-case at the North Lawn of the Taj Samudra Hotel - the picture of serenity.

Meanwhile on a stage on the centre of the ground Children from St Thomas's school, Kotte dance to the rhythm of drums they cannot hear; two teen-age boys have a long conversation with their hands; men and women smile at anyone who catches their eye from steel chairs with wheels on them. Business flourishes in the stalls around the oval shaped lawn. Looks like market day? Yet, a market day with a difference, for, surprisingly, none of the customers bargains. They pay the price marked on the product, with enthusiasm.

It is Sunday. A beautiful day after a night's heavy rain. The kind of day to be on the beach, on top of a mountain or simply to laze around at home reading the newspapers. But, instead "they" - His Excellency, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Mahourd Al Alli, Assistant Director, Department of Social Services Yamuna Chitrangani, Director Hameedia Hussain Saddiqe, Managing Director Fazool Hameed, Director MBC Networks Siraj Cader, General Manager, Taj Samudra Hotel Mohan Kumar, Nelum Pushpasiri from Sunflower Home, and even Sanath Jayasuriya together with an uncountable number of philanthropists make it to the grounds of the Taj on 11th Nov. 2001, to be with the differently abled, to show "We are family".

Seated in the audience is the Colombo district Commissioner of the Girl Guide's Association Mrs. M. Ratnaweera. "We are proud to say there are Little Friends and Girl Guides in the homes for the differently abled" says Ratnaweera. " We have come today to give our assistance in anyway we can".

But do they need assistance? Yes, perhaps in the form of moral support and encouragement. But physically? No.

"I came in a three-wheeler with two young-men from the village." says Kapila Karunatilake from his wheel-chair. There are eight inmates at his "home" in Olandawatta, Galigamuwa. Karunatilake points to the pillow-cases, the Christmas cards and the brooms on display and says his companions had made them, but he had had to come on their behalf because they found it difficult to travel.

Dressed neatly in a purple coloured sari, Chitra Kalyani, is so short in stature, she has to raise her head to look at me. She is in charge of the stall by the Sarvodhaya Suwa-Setha Society, Moratuwa. Chitra's beaming face seem to brighten an already bright day. "I am disabled too", she says (referring to her height) almost with pride, but "I have helped the differently abled girls at our centre to stich these saris and to paint these flower-pots."

The Branch Manager of Sukhita Vocational Training Centre, M.K Karunathilake, says his centre provides training to women between 18 to 30, who have a physical disability. They would be trained in painting, pottery, dress-making, catering etc. At the end of the two year training period which is free, assistance will also be given to purchase equipment to have a business of one's own. Those who wish to join Sukhita could write to Sukhita Vocational Training Centre, Division 8, Padukka Road, Horana (Tel. 034-61037).

In the next stall, Shrimali stands smiling beside her husband, Abeywansha Pathirage. Pathirage who had lost one arm and all the fingers of the other in an accident has no business card to offer. He gives me a brown paper bag with his seal on it. Shrimali Batik, Adikarigoda - Kalutara. Undaunted by his disability, Pathirage uses the stump of flesh left on his right hand to create exquisite Batik paintings.

"Suhada" "Susara" "Sambodhi". As I write the words down a voice says from somewhere close to my waist "They are the names of three homes. Suhada is one, Susara, another. Sambodhi is the third. And I'm Nimal Jayawardena. I go down on my knees to hear more. Nimal twists his body on the wheel chair and points to a row of flower pots made from tiles. "I made them with my hands, without using a single tool. I used left-over pieces of tile, so my flower pots can be kept in bathrooms".

Unlike Jayawardena, Roshan Chaminda cannot talk about his products. At the age of nine he had lost the ability to hear. Speaking on his behalf, his mother points to the brightly painted vases and saris and says he had made them on his own. He had known about the exhibition only a day or two ago. So, there had been little time to get ready. A flower pot with a mask carved on it is Roshan's best creation. His mother hopes he will win a prize for it.

Ranjith Kumara Herath sells wheel-chairs. His products look more comfortable than the ordinary wheel-chair. Ranjith himself is seated in one, and says all the other workers at the Nylander Industrial Coop Society Ltd, are like him. "We know the shortcomings of the ordinary wheel chair, so we have designed these special ones to meet our needs" says Ranjith, who is the president of the "cooperative" of physically handicapped people. In addition to manufacturing wheel chairs his society also makes toys from non-toxic material to be exported to European countries. "But these days business is not so good. Demand for our toys has dropped at least 75%", says Ranjith.

A packet of coffee is sold at Rs.25. A broom is priced at Rs. 40 at the stall by the Anandapura Children's Home in Katana. "These are from our garden" says the Matron, Gladys Ramanayake, pointing to a heap of vegetables on a table. "We are happy to be here today. I think the talents of these differently abled children have been hidden for far too long. It is good to give them opportunities like these to display their creations.

Meanwhile, Prasangi sits serenely in front of her stall stitching her pillowcase. She represents the children in her home "Supem Uyana" in Gonapinuwala. " We see the children as special as we try to bridge the gap between them and the outside world at Supem Uyana" says Sister Premila. Looking at the Christmas cards and the beautifully stitched pillowcases on display none would know they had been created by children who were not born with average intelligence. Their efforts are evidence of how well they have overcome their inabilities.

The exhibition made the average human being feel proud to be a kinsman of the differently abled. It was with pride that everyone read the slogan on the banners "We are Family".  

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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